Rubber heel tip



` Dec. -1, 192s. I 1,563,970 I* A. M.y E|CHORN RUBBER HEEL TI P Filed July 1'8, 192s fcl.

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l l 0 30 27 27 ZZ 2521' 26 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. l, 1925.

Ultimi ARTHUR IWT. EICI'ORN, 0F NEVI YORK, N.

Y., ASSIGNOR TO EVERNU RUBBER HEEL CORPORATON, 0F NEW YORK, lll. Y., A CRPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

RUBBER HEEL TIP.

Application filed July 18, 1923.

To all 10710772. t may cof/tecra:

Be it known that l, nrriun M. EicHoRN, a itizen ot the United States, residing at N ew Yorlr city, horougl'i o the Bronx, in the county or Bronx and State et New York. have invented certain new and useful improvements in ltubber l-leel rlips, ot which the following is a specilication.

This invention reiates to rubbciI or cushion heels for shoes and has particular refern ence to that type of heel tips in which there are provided two main parts,one to be secured permanent.y to the heel, and the other to be detachably connected thereto Jlor such purposes as renewal or adjustment to compensate tor wear.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a rubber heel tip molded or otherwise termed in a peculiar manner, mainly of solid resilient rubber, but having suitable reinforcing and stitlening means embedded therein.

Another object et the invention is to provide a renewabie or interchangeable rubber heel tip made with holes therein for the insertion of a novel type of tread members so designed as to serve as anti-slipping means and also as anchorage means to hold the tip in normal wearing position.

i still further object oi the invention is to provide an improved type of keeper or locking means tor securing he renewable or interchangeable tip removably to the fixed portion ol the heel.

Viii still further object of the invention is to provide heel tip devices in which for each heel there is a removable tip or point portion of a composition best suited for individual use according either to his peculiar inclinations or the occasion 'for which the devices are worn. ln other words, tor the ordinary use et a pedestrian a sott resilient cushion is desirable, but tor other uses such as dancing a hard tip is required, and by my improvement l provide tips ot various qualities or natures and interchange them according to the occasion.

ln the practice of this inventionthe separate parts of the construction may be made in various designs or modiiications, some ot which are illustrated, and l wish it to be understood that the illustrations are to be interpreted as suggestive ot the broader aspects of the invention, rather than as lim-- itations of particular' construction. lllus- Serial No. 652,252.

trations, tor example, of alternative forms indicate that the kinds of material employed may vary somewhat, and accordingly certain parts may be of `dili'erei'it specific design, but the general spirit of the invention remains without substantial variation except may be permitted by the scope of the claims and the state of the art.

@if the drawings, in which similar' or related parts are i ieri-ed to by similar re'ierence characters,

Figure l. is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 1mi of Fig. Q.

lig. 2 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the reintorcement plate lor the base portion.

Figs. e and 5 are alternative forms ot keepers.

Fig. er is an edge View of the keeper of F ig. 4c.

Figs. 6 and are alternative forms` of reinforcement means for the removable or interchangeable tip member.

Fig. 8 is a further modilication of the reinforcement rmeans for the tip, having a suggestion of integral locking means.

llig. 9 is a detail view et a preferred form of anchorrpin for the tread plugs used in connection with the renewable tip.

Fig. 10 is a modification of the tip of harder composition than for use as shown in Fig. l.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings l show my improvement as comprising a relatively permanent attachment members or base l0 made largely of rubber ttor cushioning purposeaand within it is molded a reinforcement plate 1l; rlhis plate is provided with a plurality ot holes l2 for attachment screws or nails l?) and through which the base may be secured readily and reliably to the leather portion lll of the heel. The plate l1 is formed with a plurality of larger holes or openings l5 through which the main rubber body of the baseinay pass for strengthening the connection between the metal and rubber parts. Also along the central portion of the plate ll is formed a channel 16, as by swaging downward a portion ot the plate at 1'?. The ends et this channel are practically open, and located in the channel is a keeper formed either as from wire stock as at 18 in `lligs. l and ila, or from sheet metal as at 18 in Figs. l and 5. The `keeper 1S is shown (lil provided with a plurality of shouldered holes 19, one near its rear end and the other toward the other end, while at its forward end it is provided with linger pieces 2O which when pressed toward eac-h other` cause the opening` or widening of the holes 19. Portions of the keeper 1S are bent or offset upward as shown in Fig. ila, and the looped inner end 21 is preferably inore flexible than the inain portions. Fig. 5 shows a slidable keeper 18 having` tapered or keyhole slots 19 forrned by slottiug' the inetal from which the keeper is formed. it the front end ot the channel portion 17 of the plate is struck upward a tongue '23 serving to cro-operate with the slot Q2 to liinit the forward nieveu inent of the keeper. The offset portion il or the runners 21 fornied by striking up edge portions of the slidable keeper 18 direct impact against the pavlen'ient and hence niust sustain practically all the wear inay have any suitable form in plan view and be inade to have any desired thickness or depth in proportion to the tread portion of the base 10 alreac y described. ln its preferred forni this renewable tip portion is shown at 25 as circular or disk like in forni7 and hence for con\\'cnience will be referred to throughout this description as the disk. For walking' and@ usual shock sustaining purposes the disk is made preferably of softer' and more resilient. stock and a little thicker than the lined tread inornber. Being' circular in forni the rear or point poi tion of the disk conforms substantially to the usual shape of shoe heel as indicated in Fig'. 2. The fixed. portion of the base 10 is recessed at to acconnnodate the front portion of the disk. Either or both of the base and disk parts inaybe provided with nonslip or friction tread members such as plugs or inserts 2i" and QT', preferablg,Y molded ot suitable composition of rubi and anti-slip niaterirl. is indifatcd the di is inade to acconunodate four of the plugs 2? while the front or breast tread portion of the base is fitted with two of the plugs Q7', one adjacent to each corner thereof and preferably Y in axial alignment with the corner holes 12 of the plate 1.1. The periphery of the disk at its bottoni surface'is preferably beaded at, 2S to add not only to its appearance but especially to its wells ing qualities, and at its center the disk is provided with a cavity 2t) for the applicatioin of a. trade-niark or other identification n'ieans.

The disk, irrespective of its precise forni in plan or the extent to which it covers the base 10, is preferably niolded or otherwise foi-ined with a. plurality of holes 30 forined directly vertically therethrough, each having sinooth and preferably cylindrical sides, but having` an offset or shoulder 31, the larger end of the hole beinel toward the bottoni surface of the disk. The plugs 27 are fitted into and preferably ceinented in these holes and each plug' is forined with a shoulder or offset 32 bearing directly against the shoulder :ewise each of the plugs 2l" inay be provided with a shoulder 3Q to bear against a correspondingly formed shoulder or offset in the bottoni of 'ts hole or seat The l'iottoni or tread surface or end of each plug preferaoly rounded or crowned and so projects slightlyv beyond the inain surface of the: art into which it is fitted.

lilaci plug' is inolded or otherwise foi-ined to include an anchorage ineinber in the nature of a double headed pin 3l. This pin preferably has a relatively flat head and square shoulder at its upper exposed end which projects far enough beyond the upper end the plug to be received through one of the keyholes 19 in the keeper 18". The lower end 36 of each pin is shown preferably as flared and extended closely contiguous to the shoulder portion 32 of the plug` body. rllhis flanged end 36 of the piu Sl nia); assume any desired forni but by reaching toward the edge of the shoulder 32 it makes strong` anchorage co-operation with the shoulder portion of the hole surrounding it.

lllhile the tread or major portion of the disk, except as inst described in connection with the plugs, is of relatively soft cushion niatcri l l prox-ide a stitiening or reinforceinemd l cans for the upper or anchorage portion thereof, which niay take the foi-in shown vlig. (i as comprising a wire nien'iber best in E? bent into a circle and also into as inany siinilar loops 3S as there are holes 30, one loop beingl elnbedded in the shoulder portion fil of each of said holes. Elfen/ce the resd shoulder portion of each plug 2T near substantially snugly against the reccd portion of the disk.

onnecting the disk to the base 10 the r i9 is siniplj' drawn forward and the then put e.

tie heads of the pins Bel coming' Lilarly arranged pits or seats in the t bottoni surface of the base 10, after through the larger end portions of ole slots 19' of the keeper. Since is held urged downward by reaof the r nners 2l. the heads, S5 will be liwiyed directly into the smaller ends of theslots 19" when the keeper is pushed rear` ward into its nested position. lllhen, .how

:ectly into place in the lll) ever, the keeper is drawn forward till stopped by the tongue 23 striking against the end of the slot 22 the larger ends of the heyholes will permit the heads 35 to pass freely outward, permitting the dish to be turned around its vertical axis and returned to original posit-ion so as to present a fresh wearing surface at the point of the heel, where most of the wear is received. ln this manner each disk will serve about four times as long as an ordinary heel tip of similar stocliV and will enable the wearer to present always a substantially flat heel, not only for the salte of the appearance of the shoes, but more particularly for comfort in walking.

As shown in Fig. 2 it will be noted that the front tread portion of the base 10 is formed to comprise two rearwardly projecting points 39, which when of rubberare naturally somewhat resilient, and to stiften this part of the construction the anchor plate ll is formed with a paii` of upwardly extending spurs '-l-U. Each of these spurs is provided with a transverse hole Ll-l through which the molten rubber projects during the molding` operation, thus providing a very effective interlock between the rubber and these parts of the plate.

'lhe plugs 27 so far as their operation is concerned are preferably similar to the plugs 27, and moreover they serve to close the openings through which the corner nails or fasteners i3 are driven through the base plate 1l.

rit 42 l show a reinforcement ring as an alternative form for the ring 37, the same being made of sheet metal stamped into annular form and having` holes 43 formed therein for the passage of the smaller ends of the plugs 2T. rlhe edges of these holes ll-'l correspond in position and function to the loops it above described.

ln `Fig. 8 l show a further modification of reinforcement ring 4t2 which instead of being provided with holes i3 has pins 43 struck upward therefrom for co-operation with either keeper the same as the heads of the pins 3l. ln this adaption of the device the plugs, if used with the'dislr, may take the form of the plugs 27 above described.

is premised above, for dancing purposes any ordinary rubber heel tip is objectionable for obvious reasons, and so to meet the demand for shoes with suitable heels for this purpose l provide tips 25 as shown in Fig. lil. the same being made of any suitable matcrial harder than the tips 25 above described and intended primarily for pedestrianisn. lhe tips 25 are provided with plugs 2T fitted into holes formed through the tips and having anchorage pins 34 with heads 35 de uuiforn'ily with those already described so ist either set of tips may be removed and tue other put in place readily according t the occasion. rlhe composition of the til' tips 25 may be harder than the other tread member at the breast portion of the base l0. lt will thus be appreciated that my invention lends itself directly to the use of any desired hardness or quality of the tips that are not only interchangeable as to sets, but adjustable around their' own aires as a result of wear.

l claim:

l. A rubber heel tip comprising, in combination, a base portion, means to secure said base portion permanently to a heel, a separable portion, and means to secure the separable portion to the base portion, the latter mentioned securing means comprising a headed cushion plug in one of said portions and a member carried by the other of said portions and movable transversely of said headed plug and having an opening into which the headed plug is received, the opening being narrow enough to closely embrace the necli portion of the headed plug A when moved to locking position.

'lhe herein described rubber tip for shoe hee-ls, the same comprising a base, means to secure the base to the heel as a permanent fixture, a separable tread member, and means to attach they tread member removably and interchangeably to the base, said attaching means comprising` rigid headed plugs carried by the tread member and whose heads project upward therefrom, and means movable horizontally along the base` member and having close interlocking embracing co-ope'ation with the heads of the headed plugs.

In a heel attachment, the combination with a base, of a cushion member adjustable with respect to the base and having openings forined therethrough from tread surface, anchor members for the cushion member fitted in said openings, and means carried movably by the base and (fo-operating selectively with certain of the anchor members to lock the cushion member in one position and with different anchor members when the cushion member is adjusted as aforesaid.

l. ln a heel attachment, a cushion member having' a plurality of openings formed therethrough from its tread surface, an anchor member fitted in each of said openings, the cushion member being symmetr;- cal with respect to its vertical center and adjustable therearound and the anchor members being symmetrically disposed around said center, and a keeper co-operating selectively with certain of said anchor members to secure the cushion member in place and with other anchor members when the cushion member is adjusted aforesaid.

5. In a heel attachment, lthe, combination of a relatively rigid base member having a central longitudinal channel and havin on opposite sides of jrhe channel a plurali o" said channel L epenin' 's seats a keeper movable wi and harina' a plurality el.

openings in the keeper and said openings as a res lt of of the keeper transiv'ersey headed members are ariane' concentricaily therewith, the tread member lijustable around its center le bring' either set olf the headed members into co-operation with the keeper while the other et will projeet into the seals, the loelmfi` me se fing after ear-h adju "nent to iii; thc tread member from rotar:

T. In a heel attachment of the character set lort'h, a cushion member, rigid fasteners4 for securing' the Cushion member in operative position, said c shion men'iber haa'- ing' openings 'from its rearL surface throuffh which said fasteners are passed, and moleed plugs itted into and'closing said opening, the fasteners including parts molded in the plugs.

8. In a heel attachment, the combination with a rigid part of a heel structure, oilz a cushion member having openings therethrough from its bottom tread surface, means to secure the tread member to the rigid structure aforesaid, said means ineludine' rigid fasteners passed upward through said openings into the rigid heel structure.

and plugs ofa imo and the 'la Leners are embedded.

lhe herein desrrlbed plug for attachl heel. tips comgrising a so i body har Yei'tical sides and one end thereof being' than 'die other, and a rigi'id lm stenine' pin embedded in the body and projecting 'from the smaller end thereof, the larger and smaller portions of the plug being' an ollsef shoulder portion and the j pin haa/'ing` its end Within the bodj,7 l radially onri' ird coi'itiguous to said shoulder.

non-slip composition fitted l0. rlie herein` described tip for shoe heels comprising' a dis-l sha ed body ol resilient, material having a plurality of holes ined up 'iard' therethrough, each hole berl than the other and ling; each of said openings and continue-ns to the shoulder thereof, an# a plurality oi plug members litted in and filling;` said holes and bearing; adjacent ARTHUR M. EyIeHoRN.

1' said o innings and in e'hifA i 

